BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a bond pad structure, and more particularly, to a bond pad structure located over an active circuit structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the higher and higher integrity of an integrated circuit (IC), the area of an IC chip is a very significant factor affecting the cost thereof. The larger the area of a chip, the higher the IC cost is. In association with an IC, an I/O circuit, an electrostatic discharge protection circuit and a bond pad also occupy certain areas. These areas may be even larger than the area of the active circuit structure itself in some circumstances.
In general, a bond pad is located on the periphery region of the above-mentioned I/O circuit. In order to largely reduce the chip area and the production cost, in the prior art, a technique has been developed, where a bond pad, an I/O circuit and an active circuit structure are formed on a same region by using a process technology, and such a technique is termed as BOAC technique (bond pad over active circuit).
During a wiring process on a bond pad, the bond pad may be fractured or peeled from a dielectric layer due to the impacts caused by a wiring press or a wiring pull, which further results in poor conductance of the product. To solve this problem of the prior art, a metal layer for supporting is formed under the bond pad. Although a bond pad structure employs more metal layers for supporting, the strength of the bond pad structure can be enhanced, but it brings new problems of wasting space and increasing cost.
To promote the efficiency of a semiconductor device in the currently conventional semiconductor process, a material with a lower dielectric coefficient is preferably used for forming the dielectric layer. However, the dielectric layer with the lower dielectric coefficient has a weak strength, which would lower the wire pull strength of the bond pad structure and degrade the reliability. As a compromise solution, the bond pad structure employs only one metal layer for supporting. In fact, with the bond pad structure having a metal layer for supporting, the bond pad structure still has risk of being fractured or peeled from a dielectric layer and even damaging other semiconductor structures under the bond pad during a wiring process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the present invention is directed to a bond pad structure, which may reduce the possibility of being fractured or peeled from a dielectric layer.
The present invention is also directed to a bond pad structure capable of effectively protecting the semiconductor structure under the bond pad.
The present invention provides a bond pad structure located over an active circuit structure. The bond pad structure includes a bond pad, a passivation layer and a topmost metal layer in the active circuit structure. The passivation layer covers the bond pad and has an opening, and the opening exposes a portion of the bond pad. The part of the topmost metal layer under the opening serves as a supporting layer. The supporting layer has at least a slot. The topmost metal layer is electrically connected to the bond pad through a plurality of via plugs.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the pattern of the supporting layer is at least two bar patterns, for example.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the bar patterns are arranged, for example, parallel to each other.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the bar patterns are connected to each other, for example.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the pattern of the supporting layer is a spiral pattern, for example.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the pattern of the supporting layer is, for example, a grillwork pattern.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the pattern of the supporting layer is at least two ring patterns, for example.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the ring patterns are concentric ring patterns, for example.
The present invention further provides another bond pad structure located over an active circuit structure. The bond pad structure includes a bond pad, a passivation layer, a topmost metal layer in the active circuit structure and a plurality of via plugs. The bond pad includes a bonding portion and a non-bonding portion, wherein at least a portion of the bonding portion is a bonding region. The passivation layer covers the bond pad and has an opening, and the opening exposes the bonding portion of the bond pad. The topmost metal layer includes a supporting layer and a circuit layer. The supporting layer is located under the bonding region of the bond pad and has at least a slot. The circuit layer is located under the non-bonding portion of the bond pad, and the circuit layer and the supporting layer are connected to each other. The bond pad is electrically connected to the circuit layer through the via plugs.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the pattern of the supporting layer is at least two bar patterns, for example.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the bar patterns are arranged, for example, parallel to each other.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the bar patterns are connected to each other, for example.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the pattern of the supporting layer is a spiral pattern, for example.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the pattern of the supporting layer is, for example, a grillwork pattern.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the pattern of the supporting layer is at least two ring patterns, for example.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the ring patterns are concentric ring patterns, for example.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the supporting layer and the circuit layer are connected to each other.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the supporting layer and the circuit layer are not connected to each other.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the non-bonding portion is located at a side of the bonding portion.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the non-bonding portion is located at both sides of the bonding portion.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, each of the bar patterns and the circuit layer located at at least one side of the bar patterns are connected to each other, for example.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, an extending direction of the bar patterns and an extending direction of the bonding portion are parallel or perpendicular, for example.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the via plugs located at both sides of the bonding portion are symmetrical about the bonding portion.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned bond pad structure, the via plugs located at both sides of the bonding portion are unsymmetrical about the bonding portion.
Based on the above described, since the supporting layer in the bond pad structure provided by the present invention has at least a slot, the Young's modulus of the supporting layer is increased, which further enhances the wire pull strength of the bond pad and promotes the reliability thereof and avoids the bond pad from being fractured or peeled from the dielectric layer during a wiring process. In addition, the employed supporting layer also functions to prevent a possible harm on the semiconductor structure under the bond pad due to a wiring pressure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram along the line I-I inFIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSReference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram along the line I-I inFIG. 1.
Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, abond pad structure100 is located over anactive circuit structure104 on a substrate102. Thebond pad structure100 includes abond pad106, apassivation layer108, atopmost metal layer110 in theactive circuit structure104 and viaplugs112. In addition, other metal layers in theactive circuit structure104 serve for customized routing.
Thebond pad106 includes abonding portion114 and anon-bonding portion116, wherein thebonding portion114 is the portion to conduct wiring, and thenon-bonding portion116 is the portion without conducting wiring. Thenon-bonding portion116 is located, for example, at one side of thebonding portion114. The material of thebond pad106 is, for example, a metal material such as aluminium.
In the first embodiment, the location of thenon-bonding portion116 at one side of thebonding portion114 is exemplarily defined, but it does not limit the scope of the present invention. In other embodiments, thenon-bonding portion116 can be located at both sides of thebonding portion114.
Thepassivation layer108 covers thebond pad106 so as to avoid thebond pad106 from contacting exterior to cause contamination, metal oxidation or damage. Thepassivation layer108 has anopening118 to expose thebonding portion114 of thebond pad106. The material of thepassivation layer108 comprises, for example, silicon oxide, silicon nitride or other dielectric materials.
Thetopmost metal layer110 includes a supportinglayer120 and acircuit layer122. The material of thetopmost metal layer110 comprises, for example, a metal material such as copper. The supportinglayer120 is located under thebonding portion114 of thebond pad106, wherein thebonding portion114 is exposed by theopening118. Thecircuit layer122 is located under thenon-bonding portion116 of thebond pad106. The supportinglayer120 and thecircuit layer122 are, for example, connected to each other. In the other embodiments, the supportinglayer120 and thecircuit layer122 can be not connected to each other too.
The supportinglayer120 has at least aslot124, which functions to increase the Young's modulus of the supportinglayer120. There is no limitation on the pattern of the supportinglayer120, but the pattern of the supportinglayer120 must contain aslot124. In the first embodiment, the pattern of the supportinglayer120 is at least two bar patterns126 (for example, sixbar patterns126 inFIG. 1), for example, thebar patterns126 are, for example, parallel to each other. In the embodiment, although the connection type of thecircuit layer122 and the supportinglayer120 is that each of thebar patterns126 is connected tocircuit layer122 respectively, but it is to be understood that the connection type of thecircuit layer122 and the supportinglayer120 is not intended to limit the scope of this invention.
Thebond pad106 is electrically connected to thecircuit layer122 through the via plugs112. The material of the via plugs112 comprises, for example, a metal such as tungsten.
It can be seen from the above-described first embodiment, since the supportinglayer120 in thebond pad structure100 has at least aslot124, the Young's modulus of the supportinglayer120 is accordingly increased, which further enhances the wire pull strength and promotes the reliability. In this way, the possibility of fracturing of thebond pad106 or the peeling problem of thebond pad106 from the dielectric layer during a successive wiring process may be effectively reduced. In addition, during the successive wiring process, the supportinglayer120 can also protect the semiconductor structure under thebond pad106; moreover, a possible harm on the semiconductor structure (for example, other metal layers in the active circuit structure104) caused by a wiring pressure can be prevented.
FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that all the same parts inFIG. 3 as that inFIG. 1 are marked with the same notations and omitted to describe for simplicity.
Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, thebond pad structure200 of the second embodiment is different from thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment that both thenon-bonding portion116 of thebond pad106 and the via plugs112 in the first embodiment are located at one side of thebonding portion114, but thenon-bonding portion216 of thebond pad206 and the via plugs212 are respectively located at both sides of thebonding portion214. Thus, in thetopmost metal layer210, thecircuit layer222 is located at both sides of the supportinglayer220. The supportinglayer220 and thecircuit layer222 are, for example, connected to each other. In the other embodiments, the supportinglayer220 and thecircuit layer222 can be not connected to each other too. In the embodiment, the via plugs212 located at both sides of thebonding portion214 are symmetrical about thebonding portion214. In other embodiments, the via plugs212 located at both sides of thebonding portion214 can be unsymmetrical about thebonding portion214. Besides, the parts of thebond pad structure200 of the second embodiment and the similar parts of thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment have almost the same materials and functions, which are omitted to describe herein for simplicity.
Since thebond pad structure200 of the second embodiment and thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment have the similar technical features; that is, the supportinglayer220 has at least aslot224 located between the twobar patterns226 of the supportinglayer220, therefore, the fracture of thebond pad206 or the peeling problem of thebond pad206 from the dielectric layer during a successive wiring process can be avoided, and moreover, the semiconductor structure under thebond pad206 can be effectively protected as well.
FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Note that all the same parts inFIG. 4 as that inFIG. 1 are marked with the same notations and omitted to describe for simplicity.
Referring toFIGS. 1 and 4, thebond pad structure300 of the third embodiment and thebond pad structure100 in the first embodiment that have different connection types of the circuit layer and the supporting layer. In the supportinglayer120 of thetopmost metal layer110 of the first embodiment, each of thebar patterns126 is not connected to each other and connected to thecircuit layer122 respectively. But, in the supportinglayer320 of thetopmost metal layer310 of the third embodiment, each of thebar patterns326 is connected to each other, and one of thebar patterns326 and thecircuit layer322 are connected to each other. In the other embodiments, the supportinglayer320 and thecircuit layer322 can be not connected to each other too. An extending direction of thebar patterns326 and an extending direction of thebonding portion114 are parallel, for example. In the other embodiments, the extending direction of thebar patterns326 and the extending direction of thebonding portion114 could be perpendicular. Besides, the parts of thebond pad structure300 of the third embodiment and the similar parts of thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment have almost the same materials and functions, which are omitted to describe herein for simplicity.
Since thebond pad structure300 of the third embodiment and thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment have similar technical features; that is, the supportinglayer320 has at least aslot324 within the pattern thereof, therefore, the fracture of thebond pad106 or the peeling problem of thebond pad106 from the dielectric layer during a successive wiring process can be avoided, and moreover, the semiconductor structure under thebond pad106 can be effectively protected as well.
FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Note that all the same parts inFIG. 5 as that inFIG. 1 are marked with the same notations and omitted to describe for simplicity.
Referring toFIGS. 1 and 5, thebond pad structure400 of the fourth embodiment is different from thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment that the pattern of the supportinglayer120 of thetopmost metal layer110 in the first embodiment is at least two bar patterns126 (for example, sixparallel bar patterns126 inFIG. 1); but the pattern of the supportinglayer420 of thetopmost metal layer410 of the forth embodiment is aspiral pattern426. The supportinglayer420 of thetopmost metal layer410 is, for example, electrically connected to thecircuit layer422. In the other embodiments, the supportinglayer420 and thecircuit layer422 can be not connected to each other too. Besides, the parts of-thebond pad structure400 in the fourth embodiment and the similar parts of thebond pad structure100 in the first embodiment have almost the same materials and functions, which are omitted to describe herein for simplicity.
Since thebond pad structure400 of the fourth embodiment and thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment have the similar technical features; that is, the supportinglayer420 has at least aslot424 within the supportinglayer420, therefore, the fracture of thebond pad106 or the peeling problem of thebond pad106 from the dielectric layer during a successive wiring process can be avoided, and moreover, the semiconductor structure under thebond pad106 can be effectively protected as well.
FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Note that all the same parts inFIG. 6 as that inFIG. 1 are marked with the same notations and omitted to describe for simplicity.
Referring toFIGS. 1 and 6, thebond pad structure500 of the fifth embodiment is different from thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment that the pattern of the supportinglayer120 of thetopmost metal layer110 in the first embodiment is at least two bar patterns126 (for example, sixparallel bar patterns126 inFIG. 1); but the pattern of the supportinglayer520 of thetopmost metal layer510 in the fifth embodiment is a grillwork pattern. The supportinglayer520 of thetopmost metal layer510 is, for example, electrically connected to thecircuit layer522. In the other embodiments, the supportinglayer520 and thecircuit layer522 can be not connected to each other too. Besides, the parts of thebond pad structure500 of the fifth embodiment and the similar parts of thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment have almost the same materials and functions, which are omitted to describe herein for simplicity.
Since thebond pad structure500 of the fifth embodiment and thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment have the similar technical features; that is, the supportinglayer520 has at least aslot524 within the grillwork pattern of the supportinglayer520, therefore, the fracture of thebond pad106 or the peeling problem of thebond pad106 from the dielectric layer during a successive wiring process can be avoided, and moreover, the semiconductor structure under thebond pad106 can be effectively protected as well.
FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Note that all the same parts inFIG. 7 as that inFIG. 3 are marked with the same notations and omitted to describe for simplicity.
Referring toFIGS. 3 and 7, thebond pad structure600 of the sixth embodiment is different from thebond pad structure200 of the second embodiment that each of thebar patterns226 and thecircuit layer222 located at both sides of thebar patterns226 are connected to each other in the supportinglayer220 of thetopmost metal layer210 of the second embodiment; but each of thebar patterns626 and thecircuit layer622 located at at least one side of thebar patterns626 are connected to each other in the supportinglayer620 of thetopmost metal layer610 of the sixth embodiment. In the other embodiments, the supportinglayer620 and thecircuit layer622 can be not connected to each other too. Besides, the parts of thebond pad structure600 of the sixth embodiment and the similar parts of thebond pad structure200 of the second embodiment have almost the same materials and functions, which are omitted to describe herein for simplicity.
Since thebond pad structure600 of the sixth embodiment and thebond pad structure200 of the second embodiment have the similar technical features; that is, the supportinglayer620 has at least aslot624 within the supportinglayer620, therefore, the fracture of thebond pad206 or the peeling problem of thebond pad206 from the dielectric layer during a successive wiring process can be avoided, and moreover, the semiconductor structure under thebond pad206 can be effectively protected as well.
FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. Note that all the same parts inFIG. 8 as that inFIG. 1 are marked with the same notations and omitted to describe for simplicity.
Referring toFIGS. 1 and 8, thebond pad structure700 of the seventh embodiment is different from thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment that the pattern of the supportinglayer120 of thetopmost metal layer110 in the first embodiment is at least two bar patterns126 (for example, sixparallel bar patterns126 inFIG. 1); but the pattern of the supportinglayer720 of thetopmost metal layer710 of the seventh embodiment is at least two ring patterns726 (for example, threering patterns726 inFIG. 5), and thering patterns726 are concentric ring patterns, for example. The supportinglayer720 of thetopmost metal layer710 is, for example, not electrically connected to thecircuit layer722. In the other embodiments, the supportinglayer720 and thecircuit layer722 can be connected to each other too. Besides, the parts of thebond pad structure700 in the seventh embodiment and the similar parts of thebond pad structure100 in the first embodiment have almost the same materials and functions, which are omitted to describe herein for simplicity.
Since thebond pad structure700 of the seventh embodiment and thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment have the similar technical features; that is, the supportinglayer720 has at least aslot724 within the supportinglayer720, therefore, the fracture of thebond pad106 or the peeling problem of thebond pad106 from the dielectric layer during a successive wiring process can be avoided, and moreover, the semiconductor structure under thebond pad106 can be effectively protected as well.
In the above-mentioned first to seventh embodiments, the supporting layers are located under the whole bonding portion, for example. However, in the bonding portion, at least a portion of the bonding portion is a region for wiring, and the region is named a bonding region. Therefore, as long as the supporting layer is located under the bonding region, the effectiveness of the invention could be achieved. Thereinafter, an embodiment is provided to illustrate.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of a bond pad structure and a topmost metal layer according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. Note that all the same parts inFIG. 9 as that inFIG. 2 are marked with the same notations and omitted to describe for simplicity.
Referring toFIGS. 2 and 9, thebond pad structure800 of the eighth embodiment is different from thebond pad structure100 of the first embodiment that the supportinglayer120 is located under thewhole bonding portion114 in the first embodiment; but thebonding portion114 of the eighth embodiment is divided into abonding region802 and anon-bonding region804, and the supportinglayer820 is only located under thebonding region802 used for wiring. The pattern of the supportinglayer820 is anyone of the patterns of the supporting layers in the first to seventh embodiments. Besides, the parts of thebond pad structure800 in the eighth embodiment and the similar parts of thebond pad structure100 in the first embodiment have almost the same materials and functions, which are omitted to describe herein for simplicity.
Since the supportinglayer820 is only located under thebonding region802, the space under thenon-bonding region804 could be used to fabricate the customizedrouting806.
In summary, the above-described embodiments have at least following advantages:
- 1. The bond pad structure provided by the present invention is capable of enhancing the wire pull strength of the bond pad and promoting the reliability thereof.
- 2. The bond pad structure provided by the present invention is able to prevent the bond pad from being fractured or peeled from the dielectric layer during a wiring process.
- 3. The bond pad structure provided by the present invention is able to protect the semiconductor structure under the bond pad during a wiring process.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.